Hydrogen Sensing of Ohio Δ 13th of January 2014 Ω 5:11 AM

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~ University of Ohio; Dr. Gerri Botte ~ University of Ohio; Ben J. Stuart ~ Ben J. Stuartsense	~ Ohio University Electrochemical Engineering Research Laboratory ~ sense for Ξ ~ XunLight	~ sense for Ξ ~ sense for Ξ ~ sense for Ξ
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«U.S. Hydrogen Sensing	Θ	Θ
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~ University of Ohio; Dr. Gerri Botte

»OHIO University
»Dr. Gerardine G. Botte

SENSED

Dr. Gerri Botte,

Referring to Ph.D. Ben J. Stuart's email below and to Your research interest http://webche.ent.ohiou.edu/eerl/people/Individual%20Pages/botte.htm#interest
I'd be more than pleased to receive more information about Your research for the production of hydrogen through ammonia electrolysis.

The following is a short desrciption how hydrogen is embedded in our devices and solutions:

1. The unmanned helicopter yourDragonXi
~ liquid hydrogen as engine fuel
~ metal hybrid/fuel cells to provide electrity

2. The base station Base4Xi
~ LH2/MH2 to provide power to its computer system

3. Mobile devices
~ MH2/fuel cell cartridge embedded inside the mobile device

4. Resource Devices
~ several MH2/fuel cell cartridges
~ power pack units are fitted with an inverter (300W - 1000W ) and a small lead-acid battery as a buffer.

~ hydrogen is not stored in the metal hydride in gaseous form, but is adsorbed into the material’s crystal structure

~ the energy densities that can be achieved using metal hydride are very large

~ using metal hydride is the low storage pressure, just 2-4 bar depending on temperature and the amount of hydrogen that the storage unit contains

~ the metal hydride pressure level can be adjusted to suit different client applications.

~ as storage units do not suffer from self-discharge, they can be stored for years without any loss of capacity

~ since only hydrogen is stored in the metal hydride, the gas drawn from storage units is very pure, approximately 99.9999%.

~ storage units are fitted with a self-sealing quick-fit hose connection and a safety valve, and can be easily connected to a fuel cell or other device using a flexible pipe

~ smaller unit holds 230 litres of hydrogen, weighs just 2.5 kg and has the dimensions of a soft-drink can. It has a capacity of 40 Ah (12 V DC).

~ bigger unit holds 1200 litres of hydrogen, weighs 11 kg and is the size of a small fire extinguisher. It has a capacity of 220 Ah (12 V DC)

~ both models incorporate an efficient brush-type heat exchanger

About fuel cells we use:
~ based on a cylindrical electrode which provides a strong and lightweight unit

~ the electrolyte employed is a gel developed by our partner

~ fuel cells contain internal metal-hydride hydrogen storage which can safely store 40 dm3 of hydrogen using only moderate pressure

~ as they feature this internal hydrogen storage capacity, fuel cells are also called fuel cell batteries

~ smaller size has the dimensions of a soft drink can and can produce 480 Wh (12 V, 40 Ah) of electrical energy

~ the larger unit, is the size of a small fire extinguisher and can produce 2600 Wh (12 V, 220 Ah) of energy.

About hydrogen producer
~ gas producer since 1882

Challenges and experiences with hydrogen
~ MH2/fuel cells have been ok for small vehicles; however yourDragonXi requires LH2 to be an agile helicopter capable to aggressively manouvre in tight places and at low altitudes
~ we have embedded MH2/fuel cells inside some of our design as stated above, expect pocket rollable display and wireless sensor due to size problem
~ MH2/fuel cells are expensive
~ due to liquid hydrogen we have to have bigger LH2 tank inside yourDragonXi
~ nobody knows at the moment the properties of LH2 as an engine fuel !
~ hydrogen is out whereas bio fuels such as bio-diesel is in

Although yourDragonXi would emit mainly water if fueled by LH2, we have migitate emissions during the whole life-cycle i.e. "well-to-rotor" / "well-to-tank" emissions.

How could bio-hydrogen be produced if hydrogen is produced through ammonia electrolysis ?

Kind regards,

Chief BIO Officer

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~ University of Ohio; Ben J. Stuart

To stuart@ohio.edu

Dear Ben,

Thank you for your answer !

I'd be thankful to know from what kind of biomass do you plan to generate hydrogen ?
One of our goals is hydrogen produced locally, for example in Ohio, at least in U.S. not imported.

It would also be important to us to know the properties of the hydrogen you plan to produce both from
engine's point of view to burn LH2 and from manufacturing point of view to produce MH2 fuel cells cartrides for electricity.

The whole life-cycle and in this case the whole hydrogen production chain is important to us.
For example, how environment friend is the harvesting and transporting of that biomass to factory.

One challnege with hydrogen is that not even Mazda, BMW and other manufacturers who have built LH2 fueled cars agree themselves
whether LH2 fueled car or other vehicle can offer the same performance as normal gasoline.
So, it looks nobody actually knows or has proven the efficiency of LH2 as an engine fuel !

MH2/fuel cells we have tested and found NOT to be suitable to power the engine but ok to provide electricity
i.e. yourDragonXi would NOT be an agile helicopter and couldn't perform aggressive manouvres in tight places, for example.

On the other hand it is proven fact that bio-fuels perform even better than standard fuels.
Therefore I'd be interested to know Your opinion about bio-hydrogen and could it and/or bio-part be produced in Ohio ?

We have a partner in Ohio. Although they believe that LH2 hydrogen burns as any other fuel, I have a feeling that we
needed collaboration with the University of Ohio to test LH2 properties as a fuel in scientific way.
Would that be possible with our Ohio vendors?

Are you involved with http://www.nrel.gov/programs/biomass.html ?

Ronnie

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From: Ben J. Stuart
Chief BIO Officer - yourDragonXi,

Your recent inquiry regarding our algae biofuels program here at Ohio University was forwarded to me by Dr. Morgan Vis.
My name is Ben Stuart, and I am the Director of the Biofuels Research Lab
and the Associate Director of the Ohio Coal Research Center
within the Russ College of Engineering and Technology here at OU.

Our biofuels program is only one of the research areas within our Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment.
While there are many microbial populations that can generate hydrogen directly,
a more appropriate technology for hydrogen generation that we are working on is biomass gasification.
However, after considering your goals, you may be more interested in contacting another OU researcher,
Dr. Gerri Botte, who specializes in the production of hydrogen through ammonia electrolysis.
She is the Director of the Electrochemical Engineering Research Lab and her email address can be found above.

Feel free to contact me directly with any specific questions or ideas that you may have,
and we can explore potential collaborative work to achieve your goals.

Ben

Ben J. Stuart, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
Director of the Biofuels Research Lab
Associate Director of the Ohio Coal Research Center
Ohio University
120 Stocker Center
Athens, Ohio 45701
ph/fax: (740)593-9455/0625

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~ Ben J. Stuartsense Thursday, May 15, 2008

Ben J. Stuartsense Thursday, May 15, 2008

Ronnine,

At 01:00 PM 4/23/2008 +0300, you wrote:
ξ I'd be thankful to know from what kind of biomass do you plan to generate hydrogen?
ξ One of our goals is hydrogen produced locally, for example in Ohio, at least in U.S. not imported.

ξ Our team uses ammonia or urea from livestock waste lagoons.

It would also be important to us to know the properties of the hydrogen you plan to produce both from engine's point of view to burn LH2 and
from manufacturing point of view to produce MH2 fuel cells cartrides for electricity.

ξ The hydrogen is pure.

The whole life-cycle and in this case the whole hydrogen production chain is important to us.
For example, how environment friend is the harvesting and transporting of that biomass to factory.

ξ We would suggest production of hydrogen on-site (where the ammonia or urea is located/stored/produced).

One challnege with hydrogen is that not even Mazda, BMW and other manufacturers
who have built LH2 fueled cars agree themselves whether LH2 fueled car or other vehicle can offer the same performance as normal gasoline.
So, it looks nobody actually knows or has proven the efficiency of LH2 as an engine fuel !
MH2/fuel cells we have tested and found NOT to be suitable to power the engine but ok to provide electricity
i.e. yourDragonXi would NOT be an agile helicopter and couldn't perform aggressive manouvres in tight places, for example.
On the other hand it is proven fact that bio-fuels perform even better than standard fuels.
Therefore I'd be interested to know Your opinion about bio-hydrogen and could it and/or bio-part be produced in Ohio?

ξ The source of hydrogen does not matter as pure hydrogen will perform exactly the same regardless of the initial feedstock.
ξ Our state's transportation infrastructure makes Ohio attractive as a production/distribution center
ξ located between the farm-belt and the northeast US where consumption is high.

We have a partner in Ohio. Although they believe that LH2 hydrogen burns as any other fuel,
I have a feeling that we needed collaboration with the University of Ohio to test LH2 properties as a fuel in scientific way.
Would that be possible with our Ohio vendors?

ξ I would expect so.

Are you involved with http://www.nrel.gov/programs/biomass.html ?
ξ We are currently negotiating a contract with DOE for algal biofuels research and hope it is the start of a long-term relationship.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Ben

Ben J. Stuart, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment
Director of the Biofuels Research Lab
Ohio University
120 Stocker Center
Athens, Ohio 45701
ph/fax: (740)593-9455/0625

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~ Ohio University Electrochemical Engineering Research Laboratory

»Ohio University Electrochemical Engineering Research Laboratory

»Starting a Hydrogen Economy
ξ According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ammonia production is one of the country's largest industries.
ξ Ammonia is the fifth most abundantly produced chemical in the United States, normally for use in fertilizers.
ξ Now an Ohio University professor has come up with a way to turn that abundant chemical into something we need more of -
ξ a clean energy source.
ξ "Well what I can say is that we've demonstrated that several years of research that ammonia is a complete, green renewable fuel,"
ξ says Dr. Gerri Botte.
ξ The process she has developed, electrolysis of ammonia,
ξ allows a person to put ammonia into an ammonia electrolytic cell, apply a small current, and
ξ it breaks into a clean stream of hydrogen and nitrogen.
ξ The hydrogen can then be used for other purposes.

ξ Ben Schafer had developed a hydrogen fuel cell, but was looking for a low-cost way to produce hydrogen for it.
ξ Dr Gerri Botte described how the idea got started.
ξ "I was in a meeting in Denver and in a luncheon I met the president of American Hydrogen Corporation, and
ξ he said that his business was to put hydrogen tanks in houses.
ξ And I asked him where he was going to get the hydrogen from,
ξ because I don't want a hydrogen tank in my house.
ξ And he said do you have an answer.
ξ And I said, "What about ammonia?"
ξ I kept telling him about how the ammonia electrolyzer works and he kept smiling and smiling and
ξ I couldn't tell what he was thinking, I just got this person smiling.
ξ And he said you're right, we think that ammonia is the way,
ξ but we didn't know of a technology that was present to do it at a low temperature."

ξ Soon, a new company was developed - American Hydrogen Corporation.
ξ They have already broken ground on a production facility in Meigs County to build the fuel cells based on Dr Botte's concepts.
ξ The first product will be a 5 kW stationary engine.

ξ "Here's the dream," says Ben Schafer.
ξ "Here's a farmer.
ξ He buys ammonia and puts it on his fields.
ξ He has the ammonia byproduct.
ξ Instead of putting it back on his fields again,
ξ he sends it through a filter that sends it to an electrolyzer,
ξ it produces nitrogen that goes into the air, and
ξ then converts the hydrogen to electricity and water.
ξ That electricity becomes a crop that he puts back onto the grid and sells back to the electric company."

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~ XunLight

»XunLight

Funded Projects
ξ $1,183,000 from National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), to develop high-efficiency a-Si based solar cells
ξ $2,000,000 plus $99,920, from Ohio Department of Development, to build a large-area solar cell fabrication machine
ξ $1,647,000, from Air Force Research Lab (Kirtland AFB), to develop flexible and lightweight solar cells
ξ $992,000, from DOE, to develop solar hydrogen generation systems
ξ $283,000 from US Army, to develop solar panels and hydrogen generation systems

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